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Seattle Neighborhood Guide

Take Seattle out for a run on your next trip to the west coast.: Photo Credit: RyanJLane/iStock/Getty Images Plus collection/Getty Images

Known as the Emerald City because of its lush greenery, Seattle is designed for wellness — and the area surrounding EVEN Hotel Seattle-South Lake Union is certainly no exception. At the hotel, you can break a sweat in the well-equipped Athletic Studio, grab a heart-healthy snack at Cork & Kale Market and Bar, find your Zen with an in-room yoga mat and sleep in serenity atop natural eucalyptus fiber bedding. Once you’ve rested up, check out these spots around the neighborhood:

Great Gyms

Get training in the same system that the Israel Defense Forces use — a combination of martial arts, boxing, and wrestling — at Krav Maga Seattle, known for its friendly instructors and camaraderie among students.

It’s a party on a bike at CycleBar South Lake Union, where the music sets the stage for a fun indoor cycling ride. Try out a themed class like Mashup Monday, Throwback Thursday or Happy Hour (a ride on Friday afternoons that ends with drinks and snacks).

To slow down, drop by Be Luminous Yoga, which offers a little something for everyone: heated power flow to challenge you, unheated slow flow for pose refinement and restorative yoga for relaxation and grounding.

Must-Try Classes

Fresh, organic ingredients are the focus at Hipcooks, where three-hour classes cover everything from Date Night (sexy bruschettas, zingy risotto and gorgeous ginger-raspberry crème brulee) to Dim Sum and Then Some (steamed shrimp wontons, lotus flower pork puff pastry and four types of tea to taste).

Although it takes a while to master the art of letterpress printing, you can dip your toe into this medium via the workshop Letterpress: Create at Lunch, offered by the School of Visual Concepts. In two hours, learn how to select the right typeface, mix inks and operate a hand-proofing press, among other tips.

The flagship location of outdoor outfitter REI offers several classes a week covering virtually every pursuit under the sun. Discover the basics of lightweight backpacking, practice tying climbing knots, take smarter smartphone photos or tackle the 65-foot climbing wall that sits within the store — rewarding your efforts with stunning views from the top.

Healthy Eats

At the South Lake Union location of Juicy Café, you create your own bowl by choosing a base, adding a protein and then topping it with tasty ingredients like avocado mash, garlic citrus cashew cream and organic coconut flakes. Fresh juices, wellness shots and superfood smoothies are also available.

If getting your full servings of vegetables is ever a struggle, ‘Table is for you — the focus is all about making veggies as tasty as possible. The hand-formed ‘Table Burger wins raves as one of the best vegan sandwich options around.

For breakfast, Portage Bay Café is always a treat, thanks to its emphasis on local and organic ingredients. When you order from the Breakfast Bar portion of the menu — which offers creative takes on pancakes and French toast — you get access to the bar’s selection of seasonal fruit, nuts and whipped cream. On weekends, reservations are a must to avoid a long wait.

Amazing Trails

Get a great introduction to life on the water via the six-mile Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop, which takes you through Lake Union Park and Gasworks Park. The latter is unique for repurposing old utility equipment into art.

For more serious mileage, you can join the Burke-Gilman Trail from the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop. The popular trail stretches 27 miles through multiple neighborhoods — including Ballard, the University District and Fremont — and is used by everyone from commuters to families out for a stroll to athletes training for endurance events.

Merge the great outdoors with culture by walking to the Olympic Sculpture Park, an outdoor extension of the Seattle Art Museum. Benches in the shape of eyes, the resplendent red “Eagle” and a fountain that represents father and son are just a few of the pieces you’ll see against a backdrop of the Puget Sound.

About the Author

Haley Shapley is a travel and health writer based in Seattle who's always up for a cup of matcha and a new fitness class. Find her on Instagram @haleyshapley.